Bundesliga
Which players lit up pre-season?
Pre-season always brings with it an element of excitement: new signings, young talents and out-of-favour stars re-finding their form, and this summer has been no different. bundesliga.com takes a look at some of the winners of pre-season.
Borussia Dortmund: Jobe Bellingham
In June, Jobe followed in Jude Bellingham’s footsteps by joining Dortmund and in some respects, the 19-year-old has had somewhat of an extended pre-season to bed in. Bellingham has even made his first team debut, having featured at the FIFA Club World Cup. At the tournament, he notched his first club goal, and his performances in pre-season have only further cemented his place as a starter ahead of the new season. Dortmund only began pre-season at the end of July, but Bellingham has started both of the club’s friendlies.
Watch: Jobe Bellingham settling in at BVB
Like Dortmund, Bayern also started pre-season late as a result of the Club World Cup, but one player who has certainly made the most of the unusual summer schedule is Karl. The 17-year-old was given his first minutes at the Club World Cup, and he has certainly taken his chances since and now seems likely to receive Bundesliga minutes during the new campaign. Karl’s crowning moment of the summer came during Bayern’s 4-0 win over Tottenham as the teenager curled in a sumptuous left-footed strike to score his first goal for the club. Karl's dream summer was then made even better the following day when it was announced that he had signed a new contract with Bayern.
Watch: The new season is approaching!
Leverkusen’s summer has been characterised by upheaval with Xabi Alonso, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong leaving, just to name a few, but Frimpong’s transfer to Liverpool has potentially opened the door for Arthur at the right wing-back position. The 22-year-old Brazilian featured regularly last campaign, and with the Dutchman leaving, it would appear Arthur is ready to make the position his own. Although an injury in Leverkusen’s 3-0 win against Pisa meant the Brazilian had to sit out the loss against Chelsea, there is optimism the youngster will be fit for the start of the season.
The Turkish international enjoyed something of a breakout season last campaign, with his stock only rising during pre-season. The 19-year-old’s ability to play both out wide and centrally has seen him feature heavily in pre-season, and it would be no surprise to see the teenager become a regular starter this season, especially with the big-name departures of Omar Marmoush and Hugo Ekitiké in the last 12 months.
Watch: The best of Can Uzun
Honourable Mentions: Eren Dinkçi (Freiburg) and Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig)
Both Dinkçi and Nusa endured difficult first seasons in Germany, but pre-season seems to have given both players a new lease of life. Dinkçi has benefited from the departure of Ritsu Dōan, with the Turk now likely to occupy either the 10 position or the right-wing berth for Freiburg’s season opener. Nusa, meanwhile, has benefited from a shift in formation with new head coach Ole Werner opting for a 4-3-3, a formation that will allow the Norwegian to play as a natural winger as opposed to a wing-back.